The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-10-27
The Little Southern Soldier Boy.

George Wilson vas just ten years ofage,
still in "knickerbockers," and had but
recently entered into the dignity of short
hair, his mother, after r'uch persuasion,
having finally consented to the cutting
of his Aaxen curls, in which the sunshine
was won't to tangle itself. He was
bright, active boy, thoroughly alive to
the momentous events of the times in
which he lived, and genersa' favorite.
After the battle, he was among the
first at the bulletin board, to learn its
results, and many a time as the heart.
rending scream of wife or mother
echoed the announcement of name
reported "killed," this little fellow, child
though be was, wonld seem beside him.
self.
One day he and his "factotum," as
his colored boy Frank was called, met in
solemn conclave, and decided to run
away, and follow the army. Being too
young to enlist, they decided upon the
novel plan Of becoming markers or mes.
sengers, in fact anything by which they
could reach the army.
Georges parents were refugees in the
upper portion of South Carolina, and the
camp to which the boys proposed going
was on the sea.coast, near Charleston, in
order to reach which necessitated many
miles of travel. Neither distance nor
the lack of money, however, daunted
them; and so one bright morning George
put a change of clothes in his green
baize school satchel, and Frank tied bis
in red bandanna handkerchief, which
was his mothers chief glory, and the
two set out on their travels.
Knowing that they would be discov.
cred in the attempt to board the train
which left the small town, they walked
to the next station, q distance of FIVE
miles, and as the train was leaving the
depot jumped on the rear platform. At
the South the stations are luite remote
from each other, and the conductors,
after closing the rear door, seldom open
ituntil the next station is reached. In
this way the boys made the entire trip,
and reached the desired haven. By the
time they arrived, their appetites were in
pretty keen condition, having exhausted
all of the buiscuit and bits of ham which
were sandwiched between their clothing.
The teamsters and servants Of the officers
gave them something to eat, and George
was just negotiating with captain for
the position of marker, when General
Capers, who had been lifelong friend
to his family, approached and said,
"Why, George Wilson, what are you
doing here, SO far away from home?
Does your mother know that you are
here?"
Now George had always been noted for
telling the truth, but on this occasion
fatty denied his name was George
Wilson," and pretended not to know the
general. Soon, however, Frank made
his appearance, and George seeing that
further deception was useless, begged the
general to give him place. This of
course was refused. General Capers
telegraphed his distracted parents, and
placing the two runaways under guard
until they could be sent home, he ques-
toned them as to their intention.
George told what his ambition was, and
Frank with both hands down in his
pockets, and every tooth in his head
showing, said, "I was gwine ter jine de
cavalry, Mas Gineral, dat's wat I run'd
away fur, but I specs I'll git lashin'
from nanny wen gifts home"
They arrived at the home on the day
of the capture Of Columbia, and in the
excitement of the hour George lin whose
breast the military ardor was not yet ex-
tinguished) again left for the scene of
action.
He Joined command as marker, ina
North Carolina regiment, and during the
last battle of the war, which was fought
in North Carolina, as he was standing
with his little red flag in his hand,
man just in front of him was shot down.
In an instant the little soldier boy threw
away his flag, seized the gun and fought
all day, until near its close when a stray
bullet struck him in the breast and he
fell. A soldier in his rear, who had
son about his age, picked the wounded
boy up in his arms, and carried him from
the field.
A surgeon vas called, but the case was
hopeless, and as the little fellow lay upon
the rude hospital bed, with the death
damp on his golden tresses, and deep,
earnest meaning in the depths of his
blue eyes, he said to the soldier who had
borne him from the field, "My name is
George Wilson; my father is in the Army
of Virginia, but my mother is in Ander.
son, South Carolina; want you to write
to mamma, and ask her to forgive ME for
running away, but tell her I did my duty
as my boy heart told me to do. | could
not stay at home and think of my father
and brothers risking their lives for me.
And now," said he as his pulse grew
weaker and weaker, "and now" holding
out his hand to take the paper upon
which the soldier, through his binding
tears, was writing, 'giye me that, and let
me kiss it, so that my darling mother
shall receive my last kiss"
AS he kissed it, and handed it back to
the faithful soldier, the blue eyes closed,
and the little soldier boy went to answer
the roll. call in heaven.-1irs. T. G. dc
Eantoiue in The Parish Tisitor.